The last place we lived was nice! - Nice house, nice landlord and landlady, nice location and nice rent - about $100 per month!!

The couple we were renting from were both retired teachers. Their plan was that in time the house would be passed on to their son. In the meantime they had moved out to a small plot outside the city managing to survive from a bit of farming and husbandry in the countryside, since their pension was no longer sufficient to sustain them.

During our time there the house improved, as we did quite a bit of renovating. It was nice for a change to have a working bathroom inside the house, but it was not a particularly inspiring room, so we decided to give it a major overhaul. Here are a few photos of before, during and after the renovation of the bathroom.

Needless to say our landlords were thrilled to see the result. It really did come out looking quite nice.

We also installed a bunk-bed in Tim and Joy's bedroom. Vlada loved climbing up into her shelf bed under the top bunk. With space for Danny's crib underneath, there was enough space in the room for a home-schooling area.

If I remember correctly that top bunk was actually made from the wooden platform we had arrived with holding the extra luggage on top of our first van.

I have often said, "The miracle is not that we can do it, the miracle is that we are able to do it with what we have at hand."

Our next project was the kitchen. Pawel, Josh's dad, who by now was visiting regularly, helped us install a new lino floor. We also re-did some of the cupboards and fixed the plumbing.

It was educational to visit our landlords, the friendly teacher couple, at their "estate" in the countryside. Pawel came with us, and we spent a full day with these dear folks while they showed us around and we saw how it's possible to live off the land - with a bit of good will, sacrifice and hard work.

There was no plumbing in the house, so water had to be carried in by the buckets. The well looked like something out of a museum - but it was functional and served the purpose.

You cannot help but admire the fortitude and determination of people like that. They were living under such humble conditions, without all the comforts and conveniences we so often take for granted and are depending upon in the West.

On the other hand - and this may be something to think about - if society ever collapses, if banks and shops close due to some emergency, or if utilities stops flowing and governments break down, people like that will just keep on going. They are used to living without, and they know how to survive.

Someone once told me that if you would eliminate the so-called black market economy in Ukraine, the country would collapse. But who knows? Bartering, exchanging goods and services, and helping each other might actually be a more sustainable way of life than a profit-driven system.

Or to re-phrase an old saying... "Money is a great servant, but a cruel master!"

Chapter 21 ~ Farewell to Arms   ( TOC )